The atmosphere is just fantastic! Everyone is so excited but not too over the top about it, there's a great "lift" in everyone's personality and we're all here for the same reason; to have FUN!!

And that's exactly it; FUN!!

Our shop; L@ Soupers, is always SOOOOOOO busy, we have customers everywhere! And it's even harder when us four girls (Luce, Zia, Grace and I) are all Bank Tellers as well.

But I don't mind it's all doing us lots of good and teaching us how to spend and save our money in the BIG, WIDE WORLD, and like I said before it gives us all HUGE thrills nearly as big as ones you get at Disney Land.

Riverdale has been AMAZING for me. From the day I walked through the doors of my own bright, new classroom I knew I was going to be very happy here. Although it was a little scary at first, by the third day I had settled in perfectly. Every teacher has given me joy every day and I’ve had fantastic opportunities. I still remember my first field trip to a farm with Mrs Walker! I got to do Quiddage with the big kids when I was six. At camp we had awesome waterslides, orienteering, and even horse riding. I got to compete in the speech final twice and came 2nd both times. In Te Puawai I’ve had the chance to sing lead parts and the atmosphere there is really fun. I’ve been in many different Explorers groups. In Cross Country I remember when I ran through a mud puddle and got completely soaked. Every year I achieved my goal in getting better. The production this year was the best because I got to perform in seven different items. I have had fun with every single person in this school and I just want to thank all the teachers and adults for helping me grow and for challenging me to push myself further and further. Without you I would not be the person I am today. Thanks once again for an incredible journey through the first years of my school life. It has been a privilege to have been taught at Riverdale School. I know for sure that I will be back in the very near future (because I know I won't be able to keep away!)...........so WATCH OUT!

Expert Shows weeks of work Audience is very interested I've done the work myself Research in my words – with my personality in it Contains humour(?) Interaction with the audience Speech is confident, clear and with action and expression

Practitioner Shows three or four weeks of work Contains pictures and steps Information is interesting and in my own words Adults have supported me without doing work for me Some humour Some interaction Audience is attentive Speech is clear

Apprentice Shows about a week’s work A little information – some in my own words Adults have done some of it for me No interaction with the audience No humour Poor presentation Few pictures

Novice Reads the words on the PowerPoint or Glog Clearly started at the last minute Hardly any info Parents have done a lot of it for me No pictures or steps Copied straight off the internet No humour Not finished on time Untidy presentation Speech is not very clear

I think I did great on my Iceberg PI.The audience enjoyed it and I really enjoyed learning about Icebergs!!!

As I jog up to the starting line of our first activity, Sprints, I'm feeling nervous but excited because I have no idea where I'm going to come.

All of a sudden I hear a loud "Clap", woops I'm supposed to be running."Come on, come on!" I'm thinking as I start to motor and catch up with the others."Man, I never knew I could sprint so fast. Oh, there's the finish line. Yes!! I came 2nd, that means I'm into the semi-finals."

Now we're on to my favourite; Long Jump. It was over so quickly, literally all I did was run and jump.Now that was a definate 3 for me, so off I potter and plonk down behind the 3.

Next is Shotput, unfortunately my least favourite."Oh no, these are the heaviest things ever!" I thought as I was trying to hold it in one hand.Finally my arm went dead so I eventually managed to throw it."Two!" shouted Mrs Wiggins.So, you know what happened next.

After Long Distance and Discus it was my next favourite; Hurdles.Yet again the clappers went and this time I was actually awake."Huh, Slap, Huh, Slap!" was all I heard from my fellow competitors as I was leaping. When I crossed the line Mr McNaught yelled "Maddy and Ana."Which meant I was into the semi-finals."Yippee!"

Now...For the most AWESOME one of all................................................HIGH JUMP!!!I rushed over to the right hand side ready to go."First", TC announced "We'll start with 75cm.""Oh, I was hoping it would be a little bit higher than that", I thought.And as I said before I hardly even had to run to get over it.The next level was 90cm."Yay! I made it over."Next is my favourite level 1m."Ok, I've got to make this one. Here I go."I run, I jump and I................................................................Make it!!"Wohoo", I yell.

Athletics day was really cool. I reckon it was the best athletics day I've ever had at Riverdale!!:)